Financial Planning and Analyst Senior Manager ( N-26-12 )

The International Potato Center (CIP) is looking for a FP&A Senior Manager, with a focus on Budgeting and Planning to support the institution’s global strategic planning and corporate budgeting processes. This role concentrates on coordinating financial planning cycles, supporting budget control, and contributing to forecasting activities across the organization, ensuring effective resource allocation and alignment with CIP’s strategic objectives.

About CIP: CIP is part of the CGIAR global research partnership committed to transforming food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. CIP’s mission is to develop and share science-based innovations in potato, sweetpotato, and other root and tuber crops. CIP partners with organizations in over 20 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to strengthen agri-food systems and provide economic, social, and nutritional benefits, especially for women and youth. We integrate social and biophysical sciences to address complex challenges in food and agriculture. For more information, please visit  https://cipotato.org/about/ .

About the position: This position plays a key role in strengthening institutional financial planning, ensuring effective budget management, and supporting strategic decision-making across the organization. The position reports to the Head of Finance and will oversees a small, specialized team of two staff members, emphasizing a hands-on approach and close collaboration within the broader finance function.

Key responsibilities:

1. Financial Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting:

· Lead the development, coordination, and consolidation of CIP’s annual budget, multi-year financial plans, and periodic forecasts across headquarters, regional offices, and country operations.

· Oversee institutional budget implementation and monitor financial performance against approved budgets, strategic priorities, and funding assumptions.

· Review budget utilization trends and recommend corrective actions, reallocations, or other management measures to support financial sustainability and operational efficiency.

· Develop forward-looking financial forecasts, scenarios, and planning models to assess funding needs, cost pressures, institutional risks, and resource allocation options.

· Support the preparation of annual planning assumptions, financial targets, and institutional guardrails for use in corporate planning and management decision-making.

2. Financial Analysis and Management Support:

· Provide strategic financial advice and analytical support to departmental, regional, and institutional leaders to strengthen financial stewardship and decision-making.

· Analyze financial performance, cost drivers, expenditure trends, recovery levels, and organizational cost structures, identifying risks, opportunities, and areas for improvement.

· Prepare high-quality management reports, dashboards, and presentations for senior leadership, including the Head of Finance, SMT (Senior Management Team), and other governance forums as required.

· Support institutional financial reviews by providing analysis on budget variances, pipeline assumptions, cost recovery, and break-even scenarios.

· Contributes to the evaluation of organizational initiatives, structural changes, and investment decisions through financial modelling and scenario analysis.

3. Budget Control and Governance:

· Ensure that budget management processes comply with CIP policies, financial procedures, donor requirements, and internal planning frameworks.

· Strengthen institutional budget controls, planning discipline, and performance monitoring across departments and regions.

· Promote consistency, transparency, and accountability in budget preparation, monitoring, and reporting practices throughout the organization.

· Work closely with Finance, Operations, Projects, and regional teams to ensure alignment between budget planning, operational delivery, and funding realities.

4. Leadership and Team Management:

· Lead, coach, and develop the Budget & Planning team to ensure high-quality outputs, service orientation, and continuous improvement.

· Set objectives, monitor performance, and contribute to succession planning and professional development of direct reports.

· Foster collaboration, problem-solving, and a strong client-service mindset within the team and across CIP

5. Corporate Support:

· Provide direct support to the Head of Finance in the overall financial planning, monitoring, and strategic oversight of CIP.

· Contribute to institutional initiatives aimed at improving financial resilience, planning capability, and management reporting.

· Comply with applicable CIP health, safety, safeguarding, and administrative policies and procedures.

Requirements

• M aster’s degree in finance, Administration or Accounting.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis, preferably in international or multinational organizations.
• Experience working with donor-funded projects and understanding of donor compliance requirements is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in financial modelling, scenario analysis, and management reporting.
• Strong expertise in financial planning and analysis (FP&A), budgeting, and forecasting methodologies.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial modelling tools; experience with ERP systems and reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, SAP, Oracle) is an asset.

Specific Competencies:

• Exceptional analytical thinking and attention to detail
• Strong planning and organizational skills. Excellent communication and presentation skills to effectively convey financial concepts to diverse audiences.

• Strategic and critical thinking with a problem-solving mindset.

Languages and level:

• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

Benefits

· 1-year contract with the possibility of renewal based on performance.

· Compensation package commensurate with experience.

· Excellent working environment.

· Work in an equal and diverse workplace.